Three days passed quickly.
During these three days, Min Ziqing was unusually obedient, bringing his treasured fifty-year-old Maotai back to the Shennong Sect.
Nannan also threw herself back into cultivation.
As for Ying Chen, he didn't tell Nannan about her parents visiting the villa or how he had swindled them out of fifty million.
Min Ziqing's parents were probably still dreaming of getting rich.
Min Residence.
The Min residence was exceptionally lively today, so much so that "guests flocking like clouds" wouldn't be an exaggeration.
Even though Min Ziqing's father had tried to control the number of guests, in the end, over thirty people were simply too important to exclude and had to be invited.
After all, any one of them was a big shot that the Min family couldn't afford to offend.
"It seems we underestimated the value of a mid-to-high grade artifact! It's actually attracted so many distinguished guests. Even Master Daozang, a master of the Xuanmen who hasn't appeared in years, has come!"
Min Ziqing's mother sighed in admiration.
Min Ziqing's father nodded in agreement, "Indeed! Not just Master Daozang. Do you see that vintage car? That's the ride of Hu Daheng, a magnate in the collectibles world! For years, due to ill health, Master Hu has kept to himself and hasn't attended any auctions or collection events. To think he's breaking his rule this time to attend our Min family's appraisal fair! This is truly an honor for our Min family, and a huge boost to our reputation!"
"Heh heh..." Min Ziqing's mother let out a satisfied chuckle and then nudged Min Ziqing's father.
"Stop standing around, go and welcome our guests! With so many important people here, we mustn't be impolite."
To her surprise, Min Ziqing's father rolled his eyes, "Welcome them? Why should we? You haven't grasped one thing: we hold the upper hand now!"
"If only one distinguished guest were visiting, then we would certainly treat them like a deity. But with thirty distinguished guests, all of whom are here for the artifact fragment, it's they who are treating us! Because we can choose who to sell it to; we are in a seller's market!"
"Uh... I don't understand. But it sounds impressive. Old man, why do I feel you're becoming more charming with age?" Min Ziqing's father playfully pinched Min Ziqing's mother's waist.
Min Ziqing's father, as if regaining his masculine confidence after so many years, puffed out his chest. "Of course. Otherwise, you wouldn't have fallen for me back then! Come on, let's go inside! At a time like this, we need to keep a close eye on our treasure. Our fortune and turnaround depend on this one opportunity!"
The Min couple, in perfect accord, returned to the living room.
The Min family's living room had been transformed into a venue, just barely able to seat thirty people.
It appeared rather cramped and narrow.
Under normal circumstances, the guests visiting today might have already stormed out in indignation.
When had they ever suffered such indignity?
But today was different. Not a single person left.
Instead, they sat in small groups, whispering amongst themselves.
"Old Zhao, why are you here? Aren't you primarily focused on calligraphy and painting collections?"
"A mid-to-high grade artifact, who wouldn't want to come and see it? If I can buy it, it's a win-win situation! Don't tell me I'm a calligraphy and painting collector; even if I collected dung, I'd still come to join the fun!"
"Tsk... Such a refined matter, yet you speak so crudely, Old Zhao? Besides, it's just a mid-to-high grade artifact fragment, not a complete one. It won't be of much use if you buy it."
"Old Li, I don't like what you're saying. If it's useless to me, will it be useful to you? Aren't you also thinking of reselling it for a profit? If you talk about usefulness, then only those Xuanmen masters are truly capable of using it! Besides them, everyone else has to stand aside!"
"Don't argue, you two. Can't you see that many people are actually here on behalf of Xuanmen masters? Do you really think someone will buy this and try to flip it for profit? At our level, do we lack that kind of money? It's not worth the trouble! It's better to use it to build goodwill with a Xuanmen master, who might save your life during a critical moment!"
"Indeed, that makes sense."
"Haha, that's my thinking too..."
Soon, many guests nodded in agreement.
Clearly, they intended to buy it and then present it to a familiar Xuanmen master to foster good relations.
After all, money couldn't save lives in many situations, but a Xuanmen master could.
"Everyone, please be quiet."
At this moment, Min Ziqing's father, holding a microphone, walked to the center of the venue.
In the past, seeing so many rare and important figures, his legs would have gone weak, or at the very least, he would have been bowing and scraping respectfully.
But today, he was exceptionally bold. While not exactly arrogant, he didn't pay much attention to these magnates.
His proud expression seemed to say: Beg me! Beg me and I'll sell you the fragment!
"Firstly, I welcome everyone to this appraisal fair. The venue is limited, and our hospitality may be wanting. I hope everyone will bear with us."
"Secondly, the theme of this appraisal fair, as everyone is aware, is a mid-to-high grade artifact... well, a fragment..."
"Although it is a fragment, it still possesses considerable spiritual essence. According to professional assessment, if this artifact were not damaged, it would have been highly likely to upgrade to a high-grade artifact within ten years!"
"It might even develop an artifact spirit!"
Whoosh!
The entire hall erupted in a commotion.
The information revealed by Min Ziqing's father was something they had not previously possessed.
An artifact with the potential to become a high-grade artifact!
An artifact with the potential to develop an artifact spirit!
Even as a fragment, its value had suddenly increased significantly!
If they could enlist the help of that legendary old master craftsman of the Xuanmen to reshape these fragments, they might still retain the artifact's original potential!
Amidst the uproar, Master Daozang, who had been meditating with his eyes closed since entering, suddenly opened his eyes.
Evidently, even someone of his cultivation was moved by this news.
Though his expression remained calm and composed, a look of determination to possess it flickered in his eyes!
The importance of artifacts to those in the Xuanmen was self-evident.
A high-grade artifact could instantly double Master Daozang's combat power!
From then on, standing alongside the sect leaders of the Five Great Sects would no longer be an impossibility!
"Stop the preamble! Display the artifact!"
Seeing that Min Ziqing's father still seemed reluctant to finish, Master Daozang couldn't help but reprimand him.
Min Ziqing's father, his dramatic build-up interrupted, felt instantly displeased.
He was about to lose his temper, but upon seeing it was Master Daozang, he managed to restrain himself.
Even though he held the advantage today, Master Daozang was still someone he couldn't afford to offend.
Not to mention he needed Master Daozang's endorsement.
Once the fragment was recognized by Master Daozang, even if Master Daozang ultimately didn't buy it, its price would skyrocket.
"Alright, I'll skip the other steps. I will now present the protagonist of today's event to everyone!"
Min Ziqing's father said with full vigor.
He then abruptly lifted a cover from the table.
However, beneath that cover was another smaller one.
When the smaller cover was lifted, there was an even smaller one.
Like a set of Russian nesting dolls, Min Ziqing's father lifted five layers of covers before finally revealing a jade plate at the bottom.
This left everyone speechless.
But in the next second, their gazes were drawn to a small pile of powder in the center of the jade plate.
"Is this the fragment of the artifact? It's much more broken than I imagined!"
"This can hardly be called a fragment, it's practically powder!"
"With just this small pile of powder, can it form a complete artifact? Brother Min, you haven't hidden any part of it, have you?"
Every discerning guest present could see through Min Ziqing's father's scheme immediately.
Exposed, Min Ziqing's father hastily waved his hands, "No, no, this is all we received. Uh, let me introduce it to everyone. Although these fragments are fine, they truly possess considerable spiritual essence."
"If you don't believe me, please invite Master Daozang to the stage to verify."
Master Daozang had already intended to do so. Hearing Min Ziqing's father's invitation, he didn't refuse and immediately stepped forward to take the jade plate and verify it.
"Incorrect!"
However, to everyone's surprise, Master Daozang suddenly spoke up after just one second.